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Animal Control Officer Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

City of Greeley

Animal Control Officer

Greeley, CO · On-site

$26.57 - $38.53/hr

Job Summary The Animal Control Officer responds to animal-related calls including, but not limited to complaints, animals at large, injured animals, and catching and transporting animals to the ...

City of Greeley

Animal Control Officer

Greeley, CO · On-site

$26.57 - $38.53/hr

Job Summary The Animal Control Officer responds to animal-related calls including, but not limited to complaints, animals at large, injured animals, and catching and transporting animals to the ...

GovernmentJobs.com

Animal Control Deputy

Durango, CO · On-site

Animal Control Deputy The Animal Control Deputy position is a uniformed, non-sworn employee ... patrol officers with traffic control during accidents, special events, and other situations ...

La Plata County

Animal Control Deputy

Durango, CO · On-site

$58K - $69K/yr

... patrol officers with traffic control during accidents, special events, and other situations ... Enforce animal-related ordinances including stray, dangerous, or neglected animals; humanely ...

City of Arvada

Animal Management Officer

Arvada, CO · On-site

Animal Management Officer The City is seeking a dedicated Animal Management Officer to protect ... Assists patrol with traffic control, evacuations, and transportation of large pieces of evidence ...

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Animal Control Officer information

See Colorado salary details

$30K

$50.4K

$74.1K

How much do animal control officer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for animal control officer in Colorado is $50,382.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40,500.00 and $56,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal control officer?

Animal Control Officers are public safety professionals responsible for enforcing laws related to the care and control of animals. They investigate cases of animal cruelty, rescue animals in distress, and manage issues such as stray animals or dangerous pets. These officers often educate the community about responsible pet ownership and may work for local government agencies or animal shelters. Their role helps ensure the safety of both the public and animals in their community.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animal control officer?

To thrive as an Animal Control Officer, you need a solid understanding of animal behavior, local laws, and public safety protocols, often supported by a high school diploma and specialized training or certification. Familiarity with animal handling equipment, incident reporting systems, and sometimes animal capture or tranquilizing tools is typically required. Strong communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills help build trust with the public and efficiently manage stressful situations. These competencies are crucial for ensuring community safety, humane animal treatment, and effective enforcement of animal-related regulations.

What does an animal control officer do?

As an animal control officer, your job duties include dealing with dangerous wildlife and capturing stray pets and abandoned animals. You may also work on the investigation of animal abuse cases. When on duty, you may patrol a community or wait for a dispatcher to deploy you to deal with an escaped pet, potentially dangerous wildlife, or stray animal. Your responsibilities also include providing care and treatment for injured animals, both wild and domestic. You may work “on call,” meaning that you may be called to provide service at any time of day or night.

What are common challenges an animal control officer faces in the field?

Animal Control Officers often encounter challenging situations such as handling aggressive or frightened animals, dealing with emotionally charged interactions with pet owners, and responding to emergency calls at irregular hours. They must also navigate local laws and regulations while ensuring public safety and animal welfare. Strong communication skills, quick decision-making, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between Animal Control Officer vs Animal Shelter Worker?

AspectAnimal Control OfficerAnimal Shelter Worker
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma, sometimes animal control certificationHigh school diploma, animal care training often preferred
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, outdoor and community settingsIndoor shelter facilities, animal care areas
Employer & Industry UsageMunicipalities, government agenciesAnimal shelters, rescue organizations
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for animal handling and enforcement rolesCompared for animal care and shelter management roles

Animal Control Officers primarily handle wildlife and stray animals in the community, enforcing local laws, while Animal Shelter Workers focus on caring for animals within shelter facilities. Both roles require animal handling skills, but their work environments and responsibilities differ significantly.

Is it hard to be an animal control officer?

Being an animal control officer can be physically demanding and requires strong communication, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of animal behavior and local laws. The job often involves working outdoors in various weather conditions and handling potentially aggressive animals, which can be challenging but manageable with proper training and experience.

What skills are needed to be an animal control officer?

Animal control officers need strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with the public and handle animals safely. They should have knowledge of animal behavior, basic veterinary care, and often require physical fitness and the ability to operate equipment such as traps and vehicles. Certification in animal handling or related training is also beneficial for the role.
More about Animal Control Officer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Animal Control Officer jobs in Colorado?

The most popular types of Animal Control Officer jobs in Colorado are:

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For Animal Control Officer jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animal Control Officer jobs in Colorado look for?

The top searched job categories for Animal Control Officer jobs in Colorado are:

What cities in Colorado are hiring for Animal Control Officer jobs?

Cities in Colorado with the most Animal Control Officer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Animal Control Officer jobs in CO?

For Animal Control Officer jobs in CO, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Animal Control Officer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Control Officer job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,382 per year, or $24.2 per hour.

Animal Control Officer

City of Greeley

Greeley, CO • On-site

$26.57 - $38.53/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 1 hour ago

City Of Greeley rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

625th of 851 rated public administrative organizations

Job description


Anticipated Hiring Range: $26.57 - $33.77 hourly
Full Salary Range: $26.57 - $38.53 hourly
Why do I see two salary ranges?
The City of Greeley in compliance with Colorado state law, includes a salary range for all positions posted. This law is intended to improve wage transparency. The City of Greeley, in support of wage transparency posts both the full salary range for each position (what you might anticipate your earnings could be if you work for the City of Greeley for some time), as well as the anticipated hiring range (the range within which the City anticipates making an offer). The actual offer extended will be based on your years of relevant experience, education, certifications and potentially other factors.
City of Greeley's Total Rewards
The City of Greeley is committed to providing a comprehensive total rewards program that supports employees in their work by encouraging excellence and investing in employee development and recognition. This philosophy is grounded in fiscal responsibility, organizational effectiveness, and employee safety and well-being, ensuring the responsible stewardship of public resources while offering meaningful and comparable rewards. This approach ensures that the city remains an attractive, inclusive, and rewarding work environment, while also effectively serving the community.
Benefits: This position is benefits eligible. Please view our benefits guide here.
City of Greeley: Work, Live, and Play in Greeley: https://youtu.be/hX-4F0pG0OY
Job Summary
The Animal Control Officer responds to animal-related calls including, but not limited to complaints, animals at large, injured animals, and catching and transporting animals to the shelter while enforcing municipal ordinances as they relate to animals.
Minimum Requirements
  • Two (2) to four (4) years of relevant experience.
  • High School diploma.
  • Experience operating large and modified police vehicles, kennels, nets, cages, humane traps. catchpole, tranquilizer rifle and pistol (to include darts, syringes, and narcotics), police radio, ASP baton, X26 Taser, OC spray, etc.

Preferred
  • Bachelor's degree in related field.
  • Prior experience working with animals and owners.
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Ability to operate police records management system, laptop, Outlook email, Windows 10, and smart phone.
  • Ability to comprehend municipal ordinances and state statutes, as well as department policy.
  • Entry level knowledge of specialized software.
  • Ability to follow detailed instructions.
  • Ability to enter data accurately and efficiently.
  • Ability to comprehend municipal ordinances and state statutes.

Essential Functions
  • Duties & Responsibilities
  • Perform animal welfare checks to determine possible cruelty or neglect to include, but not limited to, tracking animals a large, containing strays, addressing vicious / aggressive animals, tending to sick or injured animals, and animal bites.
  • Place temporary animal holds in instances of arrest, medical transport, and/or lack of other suitable animal-care options.
  • Perform traffic control and motorist assists as needed.
  • Dictate police reports and perform data entry.
  • Interact with the public on calls for service and officer-initiated calls regarding information, violation warnings, citations, etc.
  • Interact with paramedics, medical staff, veterinarians, and public officials (Sheriff's office, police, etc.) when dealing with animals involved in traffic accidents, responding to animal bites, and tending to sick and injured animals.
  • Solve problems and make decisions on a case-by-case basis in compliance with established Deportment General Orders and the Municipal Ordinance protocol.
  • Operate single purpose power tools / machines or equipment involving specialized training.
  • Prepare routine reports or correspondence.

Supervisory Responsibilities
N/A
Travel
Category A-Standard Local Travel: This position requires occasional local travel within the County. Employees may be expected to walk or drive short distances to attend meetings, trainings, or perform work at other city buildings or partner sites.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
Work Environment
Exposure to considerable hazards that are unpredictable and may lead to injury including, but not limited to, vicious animals, animal diseases, upset citizens / customers, and areas of high traffic volume.
Physical Requirements
Strenuous to extreme physical effort that includes lifting and moving heavy objects up to 100 pounds, using heavy tools, and physical application of strength in awkward positions (lifting, capturing animals, etc.).
EOE Statement: The City of Greeley provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
ADA Statement: We are committed to an inclusive and barrier-free search process. We provide accommodations for applicants requesting accommodation through the search process such as alternative formats of this posting. Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodations throughout the search process should contact the ADA Coordinator at: HR@Greeleygov.com .
Conditions of Employment: Candidates must successfully complete all pre-employment screenings and employment eligibility verification. Pre-employment screenings include a drug test, a background and national sex offender search, a motor vehicle record search, and for some positions, a physical demands evaluation. For more information about City policies and practices during the recruitment process, including but not limited to EOE, Reasonable Accommodation, and pre-employment screenings, please visit our career page HERE.

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